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I’ve always wondered how you can be a perfectly respectable member of society when you’re a known criminal but it’s okay ’cause you’re a hero type person.

In the case of the Dragonborn I suppose you’re more hated or ignored than loved. Most people seem to want to kill you ’cause you can shout in a foreign language and some of them are like “Yes, so, you can shout. Well done. I’ll give you a few Septims if you never speak to me again.” But, back to the point, if there was one, when I was playing my Argonian Dragonborn who was an expert assassin marksman I always wondered why people didn’t try to kill me when I’m known to have killed various people. It’s almost like they hate you and they hate talking to you but they won’t actually do anything about it.

Then again we are talking about the constraints of the AI in the engine that Skyrim was built in, so, really, it’s not surprising. It’s just kind of funny that you can go about doing whatever you please and unless someone actually sees you committing a crime you’re fine to go around killing anyone you wish. Or stealing everything that isn’t nailed down. Then if you are seen you can just pay them money to pretend they didn’t see it.

“Sketchy? Me? I’m as honest as a sweetroll.”

Of course, my Nord, Dakrohn, wasn’t a criminal. He was a freight train made of muscle and various sharp weapons. He could throw his axe in spectacular fashion, cleave without remorse, take a few hits, take a few more, and continue fighting despite being drenched in his own blood. He was pretty cool. Also, the first character I actually seriously played in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim as my very first one was a mimic of the one I had in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. A sword and shield warrior. Or a mace and a shield. But, in either case- I didn’t like the way they played.

I don’t mind shields but I guess I prefer them when either they’re a part of your attacks or you don’t have to actively raise and lower them.

As I always forget when I’m slicing, dicing, maiming, and slaying my foes. Which kind of means I’m just using a one-handed weapon and missing out on the glory of cleaving and crushing them with a two-handed weapon or some dual-wielding whirl of steel and vengeance style. I take such decisions very seriously as you never know when you’re going to be cursing yourself for something you done many hours before.

In the case of this piece it’s a sort of amalgamation of everything that I’ve been experimenting with for my pencil style. But there’s some new stuff, too. I think this is the sort of direction I’m going to take and it’s going to blend nicely into an ink style. This is also one of the first pieces where I’ve used a 2B pencil alongside my usual. I’m thinking about using that for the deep shadows and keeping B as my general pencil while HB can be my lighter pencil. This way I have three grades rather than two. All things are better in threes.

Triangles for instance. What angle am I? Acute ’cause I’m gorgeous.

Have a nice weekend, all!

Moggie.
Art, design, and the like found herein (unless otherwise specified) is drawn and owned by David Wilkshire (also credited as Moggie) from 2006 to present date.

Nords, the fair lands of Skyrim, Ulfric Stormcloak, Whiterun, and all associated trademarks and devices are owned by Bethesda Softworks.

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I hadn’t realised that I haven’t posted on here for over two months! I really miss this place but I haven’t had much time to do any art (or more accurately the motivation).

It has been an interesting couple of months. Finishing off the old year on a high with a good Christmas, booked holiday from work, a nice start to the New Year, and finishing Borderlands 2 just before I was due back in to serve my lovely, lovely customers. I promptly started working on Torchlight II after that.

You wouldn’t believe how many games I bought in the Steam sale (and how many I bought for those I know)! I actually had to make a list and then went back to Diablo III for a short spell to finish Inferno with a new Barbarian.

You can see the epic conclusion here:

I still feel the game is largely a disappointment but there was a hole burned into my wallet for it earlier in 2012, and it was stuttering heavily on my old hardware rendering it unplayable, then even on the new hardware the stuttering is prominent for the first few seconds of a new area or boss affix. I figured I might as well complete it once on Inferno so I set forth to do just that.

After reaching Lvl 60 (8) on my Barbarian I started running some other classes and basically running normal as quickly as I could. Currently I have 6hrs 32m with my Witch Doctor as my record for a full normal clear. Also, with all the extra loot I have found I have started selling it off on the auction house and made it to a clear 800k just from the crafting materials.

Borderlands 2 was a pretty fun ride, too. I actually look forward to playing that again with a couple of the other classes (Mechromancer or Gunzerker), then again I have a list of potential builds for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim- so it’s not like I’m going to run out of things to do between art.

Art being the primary reason you’re here, and, well, to be honest- there isn’t much to come and see recently. On top of the gaming and the time spent at work, I’ve been doing more things to make my quality of life better and to get into a better place. I’ve also had some bad news recently that has pushed things back.

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The festive season is just about over while the New Year is right around the corner so it’s probably the best time to do a post about 2012, Christmas, and everything in-between!

So where have I been? Well, that’s a good question and one that’s not so easily answered as I haven’t really been putting out any new pieces. So I’ll say it in one word- computers! You know, those things that make our lives infinitely easier but are questionably removing our ability to think and act for ourselves? Those! I built my new machine in December and while it’s primary focus was gaming the specifications are good enough for just about anything I want to do with them, which means I’ll be able to update my sites and everything else much easier now.

And update them I will!

But, before that, I’d like to share with you one of the very first screenshots taken on one of the very first games to be installed on this new machine. I have a very regimental, almost military, kind of scarily accurate way of updating computers and so this wasn’t too far into the building (on the first day I do believe)- so without further delay- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim! (Click for full view.)

Ain’t that beautiful? I have felt that Bethesda had really outdone themselves with the graphics in that game for a while but when you see it on ultra high settings you are just completely blown away.

While we’re talking screenshots and awesome graphics I’d like to point out the stylisation of the graphics in Borderlands. Or in this case, Borderlands 2. Which I think has really advanced from the original and created a much smoother, slicker, cleaner, and generally more enjoyable experience. It also has one of the best sequel stories in recent history and is a thoroughly enjoyable play. So, again, without further delay- Borderlands 2! (Click for full view.)

But this Christmas hasn’t been all about gaming or who spent how much at what Steam Sale (my wallet is crying tears of happiness right now), it’s also been about the festive fun that you only get at Christmas. Christmas music, Christmas food, Christmas drink, Christmas parties, and anything else you can successfully put “Christmas” in front of. This has been a good one as I’ve been able to do a lot and I’ve had a lot of good times running up to this season, too. All in all I’d say that 2012 was a challenging but fun year.

Equally it’s probably one of my most enjoyable years and there’s been a peppering of successful in there too.

The only thing left to do now is look forward 2013, remember to sign my pieces “Moggie ’13” from here on out, and get around to that tattoo piece that a friend requested a while back.

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Or a paladin or any class that is aligned lawfully good and cleanses disease. It really would’ve helped with those few bouts of illness I’ve had recently- the good news is that I’ve seen a priest and I’m back to full health. Though my magic points are slightly depleted as I cooked a killer casserole earlier.

Reality? The only Reality I know is the last album David Bowie released before he decided his recording career was at an end.

So how is everyone? Hopefully the answer to that falls into the category of “good”, “great”, “wonderful”, “splendid” etc. As I am feeling pretty good and have been for this entire week, my sister has a theory I’ve been infected by some sort of mutant spores and am being transformed into some sort of super human creature (really, she does), but I’m thinking it’s just a good week.

My weekends have been occupied with travels in and around Skyrim. Funny fact coming up- I bought my first house, Breezehome, the other day, mostly as I had a lot of stuff to carry around and having full heavy armour on is weighty without the reduction perks, so later I told a friend and she thought I meant a real house. Like I had a mortgage or some form of property.
If only that were so. Alas, it is all digital, which is probably for the best as I wouldn’t want to be out there facing off against dragons and travelling snowcapped mountains and luscious forests…

…Oh who am I kidding? I would dig that. Wholeheartedly.

Work is, well, work, it’s a long hours and team orientated kind of commitment. It’s a bit like marriage but there’s no divorce and you get paid for doing it.
It also requires you to wear a suit (not a dress (which is a shame as I look great in a dress)) and you have to spend time with people you don’t like sometimes, in the case of marriage that would be your mother in law, in the case of this job that would be customers who can’t be helped.

You wouldn’t believe some of the crazy stories we get. I don’t even believe them.

In any case, you may wonder where this post is going to which I must admit- I have no idea. I just wanted to throw an update out as it’s about a week and a half since my last actual post, mostly due to the lack of art, though I don’t consider myself some kind of artist machine (I do a good impersonation of a printer, though) and wouldn’t be pushing to put things out every week.

But new things are always good, right?

(If you want a Christmas card this year you’re going to nod.)

I am thoroughly enjoying my time playing The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (I love full names too) and have been kicking myself for not buying it some time ago. In terms of roleplaying game excellence Skyrim takes the cake, the icing, the little edible figures, and all the fancy doilies you can shake a stick at. It’s a beautiful game with a really engaging combat system.
Or at least I think so. Some would say I’m too involved but I prefer the term “passionate”. It means you’re both a romantic lover and deeply committed to what you do.

Well, that’s all for now!

Have a nice end of the week, all- don’t forget there’s only one more day ’til the weekend!